Installing Ubuntu

I got an Ubuntu DVD sent to me right from Ubuntu.

Since I had a half forgetten 'experience' of installing linux in the past, I assumed I should be 'very careful' while installing linux since I thought I should not make wrong choices.

So started 'planning' before installing. I studied from internet regarding
1. the partitions that I need to make
2. size and filesystems for partitions etc.

All my preparations went waste I should say.

Installing ubuntu was incredibly easier. All you have to do is just to make your system boot with the Ubuntu CD. Thats it. Ubuntu takes care of the installation. All you have to do is just watch the screen for a few mins and give your (very few) decisions then and there. It was easier than installing Ms Windows. Writing this post with Ubuntu - firefox.

Thank you Ubuntu Teams.

Will write more on my experience with Ubuntu - the 'linux for human beings'.

A wonderful post about technology

You find the beginning of the post here :

Technology: OK, but you will pay for me right?
Human: Sure! Will do.
Technology: Will you also update me from time to time?
Human: OK, I can do that.

............................................ read it here!

IE handles memory better than firefox?

As i was working in my laptop, i felt the system went slower. When I examined the task manager (windows), i found that the highest amount of memory was held by firefox (312 MB). I closed firefox and re-opened it. I wanted to examine how firefox gulps up memory - with zoho mail. Here is the result.

Note : zoho mail opens a new browser window for every compose. I used IE 7 and Firefox 3.

	Firefox	Internet Explorer
System memory before opening browsers	484 MB	484 MB
After opening browser	515 MB	506 MB
After opening zoho mail	546 MB	532 MB
After opening compose window	556 MB	542 MB
After opening compose window 2nd time	562 MB	543 MB
After opening compose window 3rd time	570 MB	541 MB
After opening compose window 4th time	583 MB	541 MB
...	...	...
After opening compose window for some more times	622 MB	541 MB

Enough care has not been taken in firefox to clear-up memory after a window is closed (or some add-ons should be causing this madness). When I tell 'firefox consumes more memory' or 'memory is not handled well in firefox', it is not a new story. But there was lots of buzz before the release of firefox 3 that lots of work has been done to handle the memory issues, but just not good enough. I use a laptop with 1 GB RAM. People using older laptops should suffer with firefox.

May be fast is not enough.

netbeans creates problem on system hybernation ?

1. When the system goes into hybernation for a long time say - around 7-10 hours, netbeans in my system begins to pixellate. When I scroll using mouse, multiple instances of the mouse pointer is seen on the screen and it persists (image shown). This was existing for a long time.


Another problem i noticed today made me write this post.

2. Even new files are not opening after hybernation.

Even netbeans restart is not a solution. I need to restart windows.

Is there others who are having the same problem? Or am I the only one?

Crimson text editor for windows - a free, feature rich, cool, simple editor

Crimson editor is a free, feature rich, cool, simple text editor for windows.

I am using only crimson editor to edit all text files like .java, .jsp, .xml, .bat etc.

It has many advance features like :

1. Macro recording and replay
2. Opening a remote file using ftp
3. Collective save

and so many other

User experience is made much simpler with say a [ctrl+X] remove the entire line if you have not selected anything in that particular line and many other similar features.

For example if you want .jspf files to follow the coloring format of jsp, you can specify so in Tools >> Preferences >> Syntax.

Explore it more for yourselves. It is available for free.

infoaxe and web memory

I read an article today in 'The Hindu' about a search engine : infoaxe.com - They are boasting about having got some of the top investors invested in them. The most highlighted feature of the search engine is something called 'web memory' thru which they track the sites the user is browsing and aiming provide the 'relevant' info to the users.

I wanted to visit the website out of enthusiasm. Not able to understand why they should use a tool bar to have the user's searches in their server (and why do it only thru a toolbar?). I found the following statement from their FAQ.

Your (web) memory is private to you and protected by your infoaxe account and password. This ensures that your web memory is private to you even when you share a computer with another user.

Is the login not enough to provide privacy?

I think google already does this thru its login. If you login into google before you search, all your search is maintained in the search history. (Look for the link 'Web History' on the right top when you search using google after logging in).

How many websites will I allow to create a toolbar in my browser? Am I not using a browser to browse many websites? If i have install a toolbar for every website that provides it, will they not fill my entire browser?

In my firefox, i would not want to have any toolbar exept my bookmarks toolbar. A web user would love a good browsing experience than infoaxe!

Emergence of online applications a good opportunity for linux

Windows has been ruling the roost since it is widely adopted by the developer, UI designer community and hence there was a situation where you cannot find many softwares for linux equivalent to the corresponding windows softwares. Apart from this, there are lots of installation problems when it comes to linux. The problem being basically the 'know how', there is a 'lot to know' when you have to install some softwares into linux. Also since there are inumerable versions and flavours of linux, it adds a lot to installation problems.

Now almost, the problem doesn't exist. Many applications come online, particularly office, business apps.

You can even create your own form based utilites 'online' using tools like zoho creator. (Yes, you can even prefer to write code in zoho creator to create complex, powerful applications - lots of help for the same is available via forums and developer community).

Then ... why still keep paying to Microsoft [I respect microsoft so much, for the revolution it has created in the computer, software industry, still no one need to remain loyal to them, they have earned enough from all of us.] when linux can do sufficiently well enough for you? Explore!

When you use online software, you dont
1. install the software
2. maintain the software
3. upgrade the software (everyday as you check the app remains updated to the second).

Instead
1. The usage of your application is not limited to the computer/system at your home/office - online apps can be used whereever you are, at any time, provided you have internet connection (Any office still lacking an internet connection these days?).
2. Your applications and data are safer and secure since they are maintained by experts.
3. You pay only less (on demand basis) for using your apps. Most of the online softwares comes free. Many online softwares comes free for basic usage and charging nominally for usage on demand (no need to pay when you dont use, pay again when you want to use again - yes your data is retained for free when you dont use the app), thus giving you financial flexibility. You will find many such apps in www.zoho.com

Just a few points on thinking about using a free Linux instead of a costly Windows.